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Macclesfield's Richard Butcher died from heart condition

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:19:00 +0700

Richard Butcher had always wanted to be a footballer, his father said

A professional footballer who was found dead in his bed died from a rare heart condition, a coroner has ruled.

Macclesfield Town midfielder Richard Butcher was discovered dead at his flat in Swinton, Salford in January.

The Northampton-born player, 29, had suffered chest pains in the past three years, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.

In a narrative verdict, assistant deputy coroner Peter Watson said Mr Butcher died from natural causes due to a naturally occurring heart condition.

"All deaths are tragic but especially in cases with someone so young and on the face of things he was a very fit and healthy young man, it is so sad that on the balance of probabilities he died from this cardiac condition," Mr Watson said.

'Fit and professional'

A post-mortem examination showed he died of natural causes and there were no signs of heart disease.

The player suffered from the condition cardiac arrhythmia - where the heart either beats too slow or too fast.

Mr Butcher's wife Sarah told the hearing he "dedicated his career to maintaining his health and fitness".

"He used to delight in that the younger players would remark on how fit and professional he was," she said.

Mrs Butcher said her husband had complained of chest pains on and off for about three years.

"Every now and then he would clutch his chest and then the pain would disappear," she said.

'No pain'

"He would say 'I'm so fit and healthy, it's fine' and he would dismiss it really."

He underwent a series of heart tests in Lincoln in November 2009, after collapsing after a night out when he had only drunk three bottles of beer.

Mrs Butcher said that he clutched his chest while working on a university assignment at his computer three days before his death, but again had shrugged it off.

Pathologist Dr Simon Suvarna said such deaths were rare and that either they occurred with no warning or with previous symptoms of fainting episodes. Chest pains were not common as an indicator, he said.

He said the death may have happened while Mr Butcher was asleep or had just woken but he would not have been aware or felt any pain.

Mr Butcher, who also played for Kettering, Oldham, Peterborough, Notts County and Lincoln City, was described by Macclesfield Town as "a total role model for young professionals".

The club, where he had played for a year, were concerned when he did not arrive for training on 10 January. He was later found dead.

Paying tribute, his father Richard said: "He was a lovely, lovely lad. As fit as anything.

"He always wanted to be a footballer, like every schoolboy does."

His brother Glenn added: "I couldn't imagine him doing another job. He tried a couple of times having normal jobs but he never lasted more than a day."

Mr Butcher had planned to become a physiotherapist after his playing days, his family said.

Peluncuran Honda Spacy Perkuat Pasar Motor Matic

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:27:00 +0700

Honda Spacy Helm-In. (HAM)

Padang (ANTAR News) - Peluncuran produk baru Honda Spacy Helm-In dapat memperkuat pertumbuhan pasar motor matic di Sumatera Barat.

"Keluarnya Honda Spacy Helm-In produk PT,Astra Honda Motor dapat perkuat pasar motor matic dimana sekrang ini sedang berkembang pesat,"kata Marketing Manager Maen Dealer Manara Agung, Riki Indarto Halim, di Padang, Sabtu (28/5).

Menurut dia, sebelum Spacy Helm-In diluncurkan, para konsumen sudah banyak ingin melihat dan membeli sepada motor jenis matic.

"Saat ini saja sudah 300 unit sepeda motor masuk dalam daftar tunggu pembeliaan Spacy di daeler Menara Agung," katanya.

Dia menambahkan, pihaknya menargetkan pasar matic merk Honda mencapai sekitar 50 persen akhir tahun 2011 bisa tumbuh menjadi 75 persen.

"Pasar matic merk Honda didominasi Beat, Vario. Dimana penjualan Beat dalam satu bulan mencapi 800 unit," katanya.

Dia mengatakan, honda Spacy Helm In ini merupakan skutik pertama Honda yang menawarkan kelapangan dengan fitur Helm In pada bagasi lega berkapasitas total 18 liter barang.

Honda Spacy Helm In menawarkan kenyamanan berkendara baik untuk posisi berkendara sendiri ataupun berboncengan. Kenyamanan ini diperoleh dari ruang lantai tempat kaki yang lega serta desain tempat duduk yang ergonomis.

"Motor skutik terbaru Honda ini juga dilengkapi dengan kapasitas tangki bahan bakar sebesar 5 liter, terbesar di kelasnya, sehingga mampu membawa pengendara untuk berkendara lebih jauh tanpa harus mengisi bahan bakar lebih sering," kata Riki Indarto Halim.

Menurut dia, Honda Spacy Helm In dengan konsep useful for daily life dengan pengaplikasian fitur Helm In sehingga dapat membawa barang dalam aktivitas sehari-hari dengan lebih nyaman, irit bahan bakar dan harganya pun yang terjangkau,

"Spacy Helm In dilengkapi dengan mesin berkapasitas 110 cc berpendingin udara serta beberapa fitur keselamatan yang hanya dimiliki Honda yakni seperti standar samping otomatis (side stand switch) di mana mesin tidak dapat dinyalakan apabila dalam posisi turun, dan brake lock yang berfungsi untuk mencegah motor loncat saat dinyalakan," ujarnya.

Dia menambahkan, selain itu juga dilengkapi beberapa fitur unggulan seperti pengaman kunci bermagnet otomatis (auto secure key shutter) dan autochoke untuk memudahkan menghidupkan mesin tanpa harus menggeser tuas secara manual," katanya.

Ia menimpali, "Semua fasilitas tersebut, tak lain untuk memenuhi kebutuhan konsumen Spacy yang memang membidik berbagai kalangan yang memakai kendaraan."

Kendaraan Kecil Paling Tak Aman

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:24:00 +0700

makin banyak mendapat tempat di seluruh dunia, tak terkecuali negara maju, seiring harga gas yang kian tinggi.

Tapi, laporan dari suatu lembaga yang dibiayai industri asuransi menyebutkan bahwa kendaraan kecil kalah jauh dalam hal keamanan dibandingkan kendaraan kelas lain.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety di Amerika Serikat menyimpulkan bahwa tingkat kematian untuk kendaraan kecil 4 pintu adalah 72 per satu juta kendaraan untuk buatan tahun 2005-2008.

Angka ini sebenarnya sudah berkurang dibandingkan 110 per sejuta untuk model tahun 1999-2002.

"Ini adalah peringatan bagi pemerintah yang sedang merancang peraturan untuk mengharuskan pabrik kendaraan membuat kendaraan yang makin kecil dan ringan," kata juru bicara aliansi pabrik mobil di AS, Wade Newton.

"Laporan ini menjelaskan pertanyaan kenapa orang Amerika membandingkan ukuran kendaraan dan keselamatan walaupun kendaraan kecil zaman sekarang makin aman." kata Newton.

Laporan IIHS menyebutkan bahwa pengemudi kendaraan kecil hampir tiga kali lipat lebih besar risikonya untuk meninggal dalam tabrakan dibandingkan dengan keadaan jika kendaraannya terguling.

Kendali stabilitas menurut IIHS tidak terlalu banyak manfaatnya bagi kendaraan kecil.

"Data sudah jelas : makin ringan kendaraan, makin tinggi kemungkinan tewasnya pengemudi dalam tabrakan dengan kendaraan lain," kata Mukul Verma, mantan pejabat bidang keselamatan berkendara di industri otomotif.

Di AS pada tahun lalu terjual 11,5 juta kendaraan, 5,6 juta di antaranya adalah sedan dan kendaraan kecil.

Projek RM850 juta di Nusajaya

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:33:00 +0700

SYED Mohamed (kiri) bertukar dokumen dengan Wan Abdullah sambil disaksikan Dr Ahmad Tajuddin (dua dari kiri) dan Izzaddin di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. - Foto Rosela Ismail

UEM, IIB usaha sama pembangunan bercampur dijangka siap 2020

UEM Land Holdings Bhd dan Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) akan membangunkan projek pembangunan bercampur kompleks beli-belah dan kediaman bernilai RM850 juta dikenali sebagai Retail Mall and Residences @ Medini North di Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia Johor.

Menerusi kerjasama itu, UEM Land dan IIB, menerusi anak syarikatnya Iskandar Harta Holdings Sdn Bhd masing-masing memegang 55 dan 45 peratus kepentingan dalam Nusajaya Lifestyle Sdn Bhd, syarikat yang akan membangun dan menguruskan projek itu.

Projek yang membabitkan empat fasa pembangunan itu dijangka siap sepenuhnya pada 2020 itu dan ia bakal menjadi satu lagi daya tarikan baru di Nusajaya susulan kedudukannya yang hampir dengan Legoland Malaysia.Pengarah Urusan UEM Land, Datuk Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim, berkata projek itu menjadi satu lagi bukti perkembangan ketara Nusajaya menerusi beberapa projek yang kini sedang giat dimajukan di kawasan itu.

Katanya, kerja pembinaan akan dimulakan dalam tempoh terdekat ini dengan fasa pertamanya yang berkeluasan 200,000 kaki persegi dijangka disiapkan dan dibuka pada September 2012, sempena pembukaan Legoland Malaysia.

“Ia akan memberikan manfaat khususnya dari segi sumbangan pendapatan yang lebih baik kepada kumpulan pada masa akan datang,” katanya pada sidang media selepas majlis memeterai perjanjian kerjasama antara kedua-dua syarikat itu, di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Pada majlis itu, IIB diwakili Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutifnya, Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim.
Hadir sama, Pengerusi UEM Group, Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali dan Pengarah Urusan serta Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Izzaddin Idris

UEM Land, kumpulan hartanah terbesar di Malaysia dari segi permodalan pasaran adalah pemaju utama Nusajaya, pembangunan bandar bersepadu terbesar di rantau Asia Tenggara.

Wan Abdullah berkata, projek itu akan mempunyai ruang seluas dua juta kaki persegi, apabila ia siap sepenuhnya kelak.

Beliau berkata, tanah seluas 14 hektar di penjuru barat laut Medini, Nusajaya itu dibeli pada harga RM100 juta bagi tujuan pembangunan bercampur berkenaan.
“Ia adalah satu daripada inisiatif terancang kumpulan untuk membina portfolio pendapatan berulang,” katanya.

Fasa pertama projek itu akan mengandungi unit gedung runcit, manakala fasa seterusnya akan membabitkan pembangunan ruang hiburan seperti pawagam, pusat karaoke, boling, arked keluarga dengan kemudahan aktiviti menarik lain seperti luncur ais, terjun udara dan go-kart.

Sementara itu, Syed Mohamed berkata, kerjasama berkenaan adalah simbolik kepada usaha IIB untuk memacu lebih banyak pelaburan ke Iskandar Malaysia dengan menjadikan Medini sebagai sebuah komuniti lengkap dan sesuai untuk didiami.

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 06:06:00 +0700

Italian rider Marco Simoncelli was delighted with his first pole position after heading off Casey Stoner in qualifying.

(CNN) -- Marco Simoncelli hopes he has put his Le Mans nightmare behind him after earning the first pole position of his top-level motorcycling career in Spain on Saturday.

The Italian rider was reprimanded by MotoGP chiefs following an incident in France two weeks ago that caused Dani Pedrosa to crash and miss his home race after breaking his collarbone.

Simoncelli reportedly received death threats following that collision, which resulted in the 24-year-old finishing fifth after being hit with a ride-through penalty, having been denied his first podium placing. "This is the best way to forget what happened in Le Mans and what everyone has been saying in the last two weeks, and before this race," he said after qualifying first for Sunday's Catalunya Grand Prix near Barcelona.

Pedrosa crash overshadows Stoner's French MotoGP success

Simoncelli headed off Le Mans winner Casey Stoner and Yamaha's world champion and series leader Jorge Lorenzo as he set a late lap of one minute 42.413 seconds.

Stoner had led for the entire session but was denied his fourth pole position from five attempts this season as he bids to cut Lorenzo's 12-point advantage.

"I'm very satisfied and happy. I didn't expect it because Stoner was faster than me in the other sessions and today we had some problems in the first part of qualifying, but after we chose the right tire for me I could push like I wanted and got this time," Simoncelli said.

American Ben Spies will lead the second row on the grid from Honda's Andrea Dovizioso and fellow Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow, while seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi was seventh ahead of Ducati teammate Nicky Hayden of the U.S.

Nadal struggles past Stepanek to reach Queen's quarters

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 06:00:00 +0700

World number one Rafael Nadal was taken to three sets by Radek Stepanek before reaching the Queen's quarters

(CNN) -- Top seed and world number one Rafael Nadal is through to the quarterfinals at Queen's Club, but the Spaniard made heavy weather of defeating Czech Radek Stepanek in three sets.Nadal showed signs of fatigue in Wednesday's 6-4 6-4 win over qualifier Matthew Ebden and he was again forced to dig deep to see off the persistent Stepanek.

'Tired' Nadal goes through at Queen's Club
Nadal, who flew stright to London after collecting his sixth French Open title on Sunday, struggled to find his grass court game before his superior fitness told in the third set, eventually going through 6-3 5-7 6-1.
"I played much better than yesterday and I think I played a very complete match," Nadal told the ATP Tour website.

A tough-looking last eight clash with French fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga now awaits the defending Wimbledon champion, who was satisfied with his performance despite dropping a set.
"The beginning of the third set, especially the first game, was tough -- but after that I think I played my best tennis," he added.

Second seed and world number four Andy Murray defied an inhibiting ankle injury to reach the last eight with a 6-4 7-6 win over 14th seed Janko Tipsarevic.

However, the Briton still proved good enough to secure a clash with Croat Marin Cilic and after the match Murray said: "We both played well, especially at the end of the second set. It was a big test for me and the ankle was the best it's felt."Murray is suffering from ligament and tendon damage he sustained at the French Open, which meant he wore a brace to see off his Serb opponent.

The American will now face seventh seed Fernando Verdasco, who defeated former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian 7-5 6-1.

Third seed Andy Roddick remains on course for a record fifth Queen's crown with a 6-4 6-4 win over South Africa's Kevin Anderson. And there was no joy either for Nalbandian's fellow-Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the 12th-seeded former U.S. Open champion suffering a surprise 7-6 7-6 defeat to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, ranked 54th in the world.

Polls Show Economic Worries Hurting Obama

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:52:00 +0700

President Barack Obama speaks during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured) in the White House, June 7, 2011

In U.S. politics, growing concern over the health of the domestic economy is casting a shadow over President Barack Obama’s hopes for re-election next year.

Three opinion polls this week highlight President Barack Obama’s challenge in turning around an increasingly negative public perception of the U.S. economy.

The latest Quinnnipiac University poll found the president’s job rating at 47 percent approve, 46 percent disapprove. That is a five-point drop from a month ago when Obama was enjoying a popularity boost in the wake of the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, says Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown.

“The president has lost roughly half of his [Osama] bin laden bounce, which means it is still better than it was, but not as good as it was right afterwards,” said Brown.

President Obama’s approval rating is also down in other polls this week conducted by the Washington Post and ABC News and by CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation, and the main reason is what voters see as a sputtering economic recovery.

In the latest Quinnipiac survey, Peter Brown says Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy by a margin of 58 to 36 percent, and 78 percent of those surveyed believe the United States is back in an economic recession.

Brown says that unless voters believe the economy is turning around by the middle of next year, the president will be in for a tough re-election fight in 2012 no matter who the Republicans nominate to run against him.

“Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the economy and the number who think that we are in recession is climbing and the number who think we are in a recovery is dropping. Those things could change. If they do not, it will be a close election,” noted Brown.

Democrats are urging the president to refocus on the economy and jobs, and Obama acknowledged this week that his administration is facing what he called some headwinds in trying to spur hiring and economic growth. “I am concerned about the fact that the recovery that we are on is not producing jobs as quickly as I want it to happen,” he said.

The domestic economy figures to be the top issue in next year’s election, and the Republican presidential contenders are making President Obama’ economic record the main focus of their attacks.

“Unemployment is back over nine percent, our national debt has skyrocketed, our budget deficit is growing worse and the jobs and manufacturing reports are grim. Now, if that was recovery then our president needs to enter economic rehab,” said former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty as he spoke about the economy in Chicago.

Pawlenty is one of several Republicans hoping to overtake the frontrunner for the party nomination, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Romney continues to place first in polls gauging support for the Republican presidential contenders, including the Quinnipiac poll where he garnered 25 percent support. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin placed second with 15 percent, and several other contenders were in single digits.

Pollster Brown says it has been a good few weeks for Mitt Romney. “Mitt Romney obviously has a clear lead. It is not a huge lead, but it is a clear lead in the race for the Republican nomination. And the rest of the field is in single digits except for Sarah Palin, and it is not clear yet whether Ms. Palin is going to run or not,” stated Brown.

In addition to Palin, other Republicans who are considering entering the presidential race include Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

NATO Plans for Libya Without Gadhafi

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Thu, 9 Jun 2011 10:51:00 +0700

British Defense Secretary Liam Fox (L) talks to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (C) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates during a NATO defense ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels June 8, 2011.

NATO says it is committed to its military campaign against forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and is preparing for a Libya without the authoritarian leader.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday after a meeting of alliance defense ministers in Brussels that Gadhafi's departure is no longer a question of "if" he goes, but rather "when" he goes.

A NATO statement issued Wednesday committed to providing "all the necessary means" and "maximum operational flexibility" to sustain its military campaign in Libya. NATO allies sought broader support and welcomed additional contributions to continue their efforts, after NATO warplanes rocked the Libyan capital, Tripoli, overnight.

Intensified strikes

On Tuesday, NATO carried out daytime airstrikes that were some of the most intense since the coalition operation began in March.

NATO is operating under a U.N. mandate that calls for taking all necessary measures other than occupation to protect civilians and civilian areas from attack by Gadhafi's forces.

However, the Libyan leader has vowed to continue fighting. He said in an audio broadcast Tuesday that the Libyan people will not surrender and will stay in their country until the end.

Meanwhile, the U.N.'s special envoy for Libya arrived in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi Wednesday for talks with opposition leaders. Jordanian Abdul Ilah al-Khatib came from Tripoli, where he reportedly held talks with officials from Gadhafi's government.

Clinton to UAE

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is traveling to the United Arab Emirates, where the 22-nation Libyan Contact Group holds talks on Thursday, including on how to assist the Libyan rebels opposing Gadhafi. The group agreed last month to set up a fund to provide the rebels with food, medicine and military supplies.

In Brussels, where NATO is based, lawyers for Gadhafi's daughter filed a war crimes complaint against the alliance. In the complaint, Aisha al-Gadhafi accuses NATO of bombing a civilian target in late April in Tripoli.

Libyan officials said the attack killed one of Gadhafi's sons and three of his grandchildren. The deaths have not been independently confirmed.

Komandan Militer Al Qaeda Bentuk Skuad Teroris Untuk Balas Kematian Osama

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Thu, 9 Jun 2011 10:31:00 +0700

Islamabad - Seorang komandankomandan militer Al Qaeda, Ilyas Kashmiri telah merencanakan kelompok teroris baru bernama Lashkar-e-Osama untuk melancarkan serangkaian serangan bunuh diri sebagai pembalasan atas kematian Osama bin Laden.

Ilyas Kashmiri (Reuters)

Hal itu disampaikan pejabat-pejabat Pakistan menyusul kabar tewasnya Kashmiri dalam serangan pesawat tak berawak AS pekan lalu di Pakistan.

Menurut pejabat-pejabat Pakistan seperti diberitakanTelegraph, Rabu (8/6/2011), Kashmiri telah menggelar pertemuan para pemimpin militan untuk membahas penyerangan kedutaan-kedutaan asing dan juga mencoba meracuni pasokan makanan NATO yang dalam perjalanan menuju Afghanistan.

Skuad baru Kashmiri berencana menyerang kedutaan-kedutaan AS, Arab Saudi dan Uni Emirat Arab di Pakistan.

Pejabat-pejabat Pakistan mengungkapkan, Kasmiri menelepon para komandan Taliban Pakistan termasuk Asmatullah Maavia, Amjad Farooqui dan Badar Mansoor untuk bertemu di Waziristan Utara beberapa hari sebelum dia dikabarkan tewas.

Mengenai kabar kematian Kahsmiri, pejabat-pejabat pemerintah AS meragukan hal tersebut. Meskipun Pakistan telah memberi kepastian mengenai kematian Kashmiri dalam serangan pekan lalu. Namun pejabat-pejabat AS tetap berasumsi bahwa Kashmiri masih hidup.

Menteri Dalam Negeri Pakistan Rehman Malik mengatakan, dirinya bisa membenarkan "100 persen" bahwa Kahsmiri tewas ketika pesawat tanpa awak AS, Predator melepaskan tiga rudal ke sebuah rumah di Waziristan Selatan saat Kashmiri dan rekan-rekannya berkumpul.

Namun pejabat-pejabat AS tak bisa mengkonfirmasi kematian Kashmiri. "Bukan pertama kali laporan kematian dia terbukti salah. Kami saat ini tak bisa mengkonfirmasi laporan kematian Kashmiri. Asumsi kami saat ini adalah bahwa dia masih berkeliaran," ujar seorang pejabat AS.

Gadhafi Forces Attack Libyan Port City of Misrata

noreply@blogger.com (andy) — Thu, 9 Jun 2011 10:26:00 +0700

Photo: REUTERS

Smoke rises after a rocket exploded near a Libyan rebel fighter position on the outskirts of Zlitan near Misrata's western front line

Government forces in Libya have carried out a heavy assault on the rebel-held city of Misrata on the same day that NATO vowed to keep up its air campaign against the embattled Libyan leader. Witnesses say the port city came under heavy shelling Wednesday as thousands of pro-Gadhafi troops advanced from the south, east and west.

Doctors and rebel sources say the shelling of Misrata killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 25 others. The violence came as NATO defense ministers, meeting in Brussels, vowed to continue their aerial operations against forces loyal to Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance is preparing for a Libya without the authoritarian leader. The NATO chief said Mr. Gadhafi's departure is no longer a question of "if" he goes, but rather "when" he goes.

A NATO statement said the alliance is committed to providing "all the necessary means" and "maximum operational flexibility" to sustain its military campaign in Libya. The NATO allies sought broader support and additional contributions to the effort. NATO is operating under a U.N. mandate that calls for taking all necessary measures other than occupation to protect civilians and civilian areas from attack by Mr. Gadhafi's forces. NATO warplanes attacked targets in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, overnight and on Tuesday, carried out daytime airstrikes that were some of the most intense since the coalition operation began in March.

However, the Libyan leader vowed Tuesday to continue fighting. He said in an audio broadcast that the Libyan people will not surrender.

Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says evidence shows that Mr. Gadhafi ordered mass rapes of women considered disloyal to his regime. The prosecutor said Wednesday investigators are looking into whether the Libyan leader provided soldiers with Viagra-like medicines in order to promote the rape of women.

Separately, the U.N.'s special envoy for Libya arrived in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi Wednesday for talks with opposition leaders. Jordanian Abdul Ilah al-Khatib came from Tripoli, where he reportedly held talks with officials from Mr. Gadhafi's government.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is traveling to the United Arab Emirates, where the 22-nation Libyan Contact Group holds talks on Thursday, including on how to assist the Libyan rebels opposing Mr. Gadhafi. The group agreed last month to set up a fund to provide the rebels with food, medicine and military supplies.